Evolutionary Relationships Between Organisms Using Amino Acid Sequence Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.
How many standard amino acids are there?
There are 20 standard amino acids.
True or False: Amino acids are only found in proteins.
False: Amino acids can also serve other functions in metabolism.
What is the significance of amino acid sequences in evolutionary biology?
Amino acid sequences can provide insights into the evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Fill in the blank: The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms is known as ______.
phylogenetics.
What is a phylogenetic tree?
A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.
Which method is commonly used to analyze amino acid sequences for evolutionary studies?
Molecular phylogenetics.
What kind of data do researchers compare when studying evolutionary relationships using amino acids?
Researchers compare the amino acid sequences of proteins from different organisms.
True or False: Similar amino acid sequences indicate a close evolutionary relationship.
True.
What is the term for the process by which different species evolve similar traits independently?
Convergent evolution.
What can cause differences in amino acid sequences between species?
Genetic mutations and evolutionary pressures.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a factor in amino acid sequence variation? A) Mutation B) Natural Selection C) Environmental Changes D) Cell Division
D) Cell Division.
What role do conserved amino acids play in protein function?
Conserved amino acids are crucial for maintaining the structure and function of proteins across different species.
Fill in the blank: The differences in amino acid sequences can be quantified using ______.
molecular clocks.
Which tool is often used to align amino acid sequences for comparison?
Multiple sequence alignment software.
What is the main purpose of constructing a phylogenetic tree?
To visualize and analyze the evolutionary relationships among species.
True or False: All amino acids are identical in structure.
False: Amino acids differ in their side chains (R groups).
What type of amino acid changes are most likely to affect protein function?
Changes in conserved amino acids.
Multiple Choice: Which type of amino acid substitution is least likely to affect protein function? A) Conservative B) Non-conservative C) Radical
A) Conservative.
What is the relationship between amino acid sequence similarity and common ancestry?
Greater sequence similarity often indicates a more recent common ancestor.
Fill in the blank: The theory that all life shares a common ancestor is known as ______.
common descent.
What is the role of bioinformatics in studying amino acids and evolution?
Bioinformatics involves using software and algorithms to analyze biological data, including amino acid sequences.
True or False: Evolutionary relationships can only be determined through morphological characteristics.
False: They can also be determined through molecular data such as amino acid sequences.
What is an example of a molecular clock?
The rate of amino acid substitutions in a protein over time.
